good beer, sweet nails

Saturday, July 31
Nice cool morning. Hope it quickly gets up to that 120 degree heat factor that we've quickly become accostomed. Why is my front rim making noises? All it has to do is make it to Dubuque. That's right, screw the route, meatcake awaits. Did someone see Delaware? Earlville has a Kwik Shop (or whatever they call it) that will substitute for a breakfast stand/bar. Those crazy RAGBRAIers, they have breakfasts of pizza, hot dogs and Seagram coolers. Arrive in Dyersville, the last town on the route we'll see. Hey, they have good beer. Hey, Diegos put in a different tape. Johnny Law gives us three options: Take it inside; Pour it out; Get arrested. I'll take what's behind curtain number one. The Heritage Trail starts here. Luckily it rained last night so we'd have puddles and mud. Bridge out! That's why that orange fence was up. Make it to biker bar in Durango. Bryan will fit in if he ever makes it there. What are all these tourists doing in Dubuque? And why are they all at the 4th Street Elevator? Finally at Les and Jean's. The smell of meatcake fills the house. Nap time comes first. Damian and Laurie will go find the rest of the team that chose the route. Everyone's here. You know the ritual: meatcake, unload trailer, West Dubuque Tap. We are remembered and free beers and shots follow. Bryan, Laurie and I stay way too long. Hope that alarm works.